Transplacental Transmission of SARS-CoV-2: A Narrative Review.

Background and Objectives: The study aims to explore the potential for transplacental transmission of SARS-CoV-2, focusing on its pathophysiology, placental defense mechanisms, and the clinical implications for maternal and neonatal health. Materials and Methods: A comprehensive review of the current literature was conducted, analyzing studies on SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy, the expression of key viral receptors (ACE2 and TMPRSS2) in placental cells, and the immune responses involved in placental defense. The review also examined the clinical outcomes related to maternal and neonatal health, including adverse pregnancy outcomes and neonatal infection. Results: The expression of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 in the placenta supports the biological plausibility of SARS-CoV-2 transplacental transmission. Histopathological findings from the infected placentas reveal inflammation, vascular changes, and the evidence of viral particles in placental tissues. Clinical reports indicate an increased risk of preterm birth, intrauterine growth restriction, and neonatal infection in pregnancies affected by COVID-19. However, the frequency and mechanisms of vertical transmission remain variable across studies, highlighting the need for standardized research protocols. Conclusions: SARS-CoV-2 can potentially infect placental cells, leading to adverse pregnancy outcomes and neonatal infection. While evidence of transplacental transmission has been documented, the risk and mechanisms are not fully understood. Ongoing research is essential to clarify these aspects and inform obstetric care practices to improve maternal and neonatal outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

High Prevalence of Colistin-Resistant Encoding Genes Carriage among Patients and Healthy Residents in Vietnam.

Background and Objectives: We aimed to investigate the carriage of colistin-resistant genes among both patients with a history of antibiotic exposure and apparently healthy adults with no recent healthcare contact. Materials and Methods: Stool swabs were collected from healthy people, and specimens were collected at the infection foci from the patients. Eleven primer/probe sets were used to perform the Multiplex Real-Time PCR assay with the QuantiNova Multiplex Probe PCR kit for screening the carriage of colistin-resistant genes (mcr-1 to mcr-10) and 16S rRNA gene as internal control. Results: In total, 86 patients and 96 healthy residents were included. Twenty two patients (25.9%) were positive with at least one colistin-resistance encoding gene. The mcr-1 gene was the most frequent (16.5%), followed by mcr-9, mcr-6, and mcr-4 genes, where the prevalence was 11.8%, 10.6%, and 9.4%, respectively. No patient was positive with mcr-3, mcr-7, and mcr-8 genes. Eight patients (9.4%) were positive with multiple colistin-encoding genes. Twenty-three healthy people (24.0%) were positive with at least one colistin-resistance encoding gene, and the mcr-10 gene was the most frequent (27.0%), followed by the mcr-1, mcr-8, and mcr-9 genes, where the prevalence was 24.3%, 21.6%, and 13.5%, respectively. No person was positive with the mcr-2 and mcr-5 genes. Conclusions: Our findings underscore the urgent need for enhanced surveillance, infection control measures, and stewardship interventions to mitigate the spread of colistin resistance in Vietnam.

Clinical and Laboratory Characteristics of Kawasaki Disease and COVID-19-Related Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children.

Geographical and racial factors constitute important distinctions between Kawasaki disease (KD) and multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), but no study has been conducted in Vietnam. Forty-one children with KD from January 2018 to July 2020 and 42 with KD/MIS-C from August 2020 to December 2022 were included in this study. Of the patients, 52.3% were aged between 12 and 35 months. Only two were aged over 5 years, and both were belong to the KD/MIS-C group. A 59.5% of the patients were male. Apart from fever, all symptoms tended to be more frequent in patients with KD/MIS-C. The prevalence of diffuse skin rash, hand and foot edema or erythema and gastrointestinal signs was significantly higher in patients hospitalized with KD/MIS-C. There was no significant difference in laboratory findings between the two groups. Coronary artery dilation was more frequently observed in patients with KD/MIS-C compared to those with KD (40.5% vs. 14.6%, P = 0.009).

The Effectiveness of Lifestyle Changes in Glycemic Control among Pregnant Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.

Background and Objectives: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a type of diabetes that develops during pregnancy and affects approximately 10% of pregnant women worldwide. Understanding the impact of lifestyle changes on glycemic control in GDM is important for improving maternal and fetal outcomes and reducing the risk of diabetes in both the mother and child. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness as well as the factors affecting glycemic control by lifestyle changes in pregnant women with GDM. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at three hospitals in the Thai Binh Province from June 2021 to May 2022. All pregnant women at 24-28 weeks of gestation, aged 18 years or older, were enrolled. GDM was diagnosed according to the guidelines of the International Association of the Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups. Lifestyle changes including diet and physical exercise were carried out for two weeks. The main outcome measured was successful glycemic control according to the 2018 ADA Recommendations for the Management and Treatment of GDM. Results: 1035 women were included and 20.2% diagnosed with GDM. After two weeks of lifestyle change intervention, 82.6% of the pregnant women with GDM had successful glycemic control. Pregnant women aged under 35 years had a 3.2 times higher rate of gestational glycemic control than those older than 35 (aOR = 3.22, p-value = 0.004). Women with a pre-pregnancy BMI of less than 25 had a higher rate of gestational glycemic control than those with a BMI of over 25 (aOR = 10.84, p-value < 0.001). Compared to women who had all three diagnostic criteria for gestational diabetes, those with two diagnostic criteria and one criterion were 3.8 times and 3 times more likely to have successful blood sugar control (aOR = 3.78, p-value = 0.01 and aOR = 3.03, p-value = 0.03, respectively). Conclusion: Lifestyle changes can be an effective measure for achieving glycemic control in women with GDM. Healthcare providers should consider individualized treatment plans based on the specific needs of each patient.

Effect of Plasma Exchange Treatment in Patients with Hypertriglyceridemia-Induced Acute Pancreatitis.

Background and Objectives: To describe the clinical and biological characteristics of patients with hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis (HTG-AP) and to evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) in the management of HTG-AP. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 81 HTG-AP patients (30 treated with TPE and 51 treated conventionally). The main outcome was a decrease in serum triglyceride levels (<11.3 mmol/L) within 48 h of hospitalization. Results: The mean age of participants was 45.3 ± 8.7 years, and 82.7% were male. Abdominal pain was the most frequent clinical sign (100%), followed by dyspepsia (87.7%), nausea or vomiting (72.8%), and a bloated stomach (61.7%). The HTG-AP patients treated with TPE had significantly lower calcemia and creatinemia levels but higher triglyceride levels than those who received conservative treatment. They also had more severe diseases than those treated conservatively. All patients in the TPE group were admitted to the ICU, whereas the ICU admission rate in the non-TPE group was 5.9%. The TPE patients were more likely to experience a rapid decrease in triglyceride levels within 48 h of treatment than those treated conventionally (73.3% vs. 49.0%, p = 0.03, respectively). The decrease in triglyceride levels did not depend on the age, gender, or comorbidities of the HTG-AP patients or the severity of disease. However, TPE and early treatment in the first 12 h of disease onset were effective in rapidly reducing serum triglyceride levels (adjusted OR = 3.00, p = 0.04 and aOR = 7.98, p = 0.02, respectively). Conclusions: This report demonstrates the effectiveness of early TPE in reducing triglyceride levels among HTG-AP patients. More randomized clinical trials studies with a large sample size and post-discharge follow-up are needed to confirm the effectiveness of TPE methods in managing HTG-AP.

Characteristics of the first 1119 SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant cases, in Marseille, France, November-December 2021.

One thousand one hundred and nineteen cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant cases have been diagnosed at the Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France, between November 28, 2021, and December 31, 2021. Among the 825 patients with known vaccination status, 383 (46.4%) were vaccinated, of whom 91.9% had received at least two doses of the vaccine. Interestingly, 26.3% of cases developed SARS-CoV-2 infection within 21 days following the last dose of vaccine suggesting possible early production of anti-SARS-CoV-2 facilitating antibodies. Twenty-one patients have been hospitalized, one patient required intensive care, and another patient who received a vaccine booster dose died.

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among high-density communities and hyper-endemicity of COVID-19 in Vietnam.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the magnitude of active and recovering COVID-19 patients among at-risk communities and to identify the factors associated with positive serology. METHODS: Four hundred and eighty-three close contacts of COVID-19 patients residing in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, during the fourth wave of the COVID-19 epidemic (September and October 2021) were included. Five weeks after exposure to a COVID-19 patient, they underwent a serology test using the BIOSYNEX COVID-19 BSS kit. RESULTS: The median age of participants was 37 years. A total of 34.6% individuals presented at least one clinical symptom between the time of contact with the COVID-19 patient and inclusion in study. A total of 1.7% unvaccinated individuals tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 using real-time PCR, and 9.5% had evidence of recent infection (positive PCR and/or IgM). A further 26.7% unvaccinated individuals presented evidence of a past infection (positive IgG only). Socio-demographic characteristics, vaccination status and clinical symptoms were not associated with a positive IgM test. CONCLUSION: This is the first serosurvey conducted during the fourth wave of the epidemic in Vietnam. It revealed a seropositivity rate higher than in previous studies and confirmed the hyperendemicity of SARS-CoV-2. Testing using rapid serological tests proved to be a reliable, easy-to-use method and enabled a rapid estimation of the burden of COVID-19.

Clinical patterns of somatic symptoms in patients suffering from post-acute long COVID: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Long COVID-19 may affect patients after hospital discharge. AIMS: This study aims to describe the burden of the long-term persistence of clinical symptoms in COVID-19 patients. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review by using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guideline. The PubMed and Google Scholar databases were searched for studies that included information on the prevalence of somatic clinical symptoms lasting at least 4 weeks after the onset of a PCR- or serology-confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19. The prevalence of persisting clinical symptoms was assessed and risk factors were described when investigated. Psychological symptoms and cognitive disorders were not evaluated in this study. RESULTS: Thirty-seven articles met the inclusion criteria. Eighteen studies involved in-patients only with a duration of follow-up of either less than 12 weeks, 12 weeks to 6 months, or more. In these studies, fatigue (16-64%), dyspnea (15-61%), cough (2-59%), arthralgia (8-55%), and thoracic pain (5-62%) were the most frequent persisting symptoms. In nineteen studies conducted in a majority of out-patients, the persistence of these symptoms was lower and 3% to 74% of patients reported prolonged smell and taste disorders. The main risk factors for persisting symptoms were being female, older, having comorbidities and severity at the acute phase of the disease. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 patients should have access to dedicated multidisciplinary healthcare allowing a holistic approach. Effective outpatient care for patients with long-COVID-19 requires coordination across multiple sub-specialties, which can be proposed in specialized post-COVID units.

Respiratory pathogens among ill pilgrims and the potential benefit of using point-of-care rapid molecular diagnostic tools during the Hajj.

We investigated respiratory pathogens among ill Hajj pilgrims from Marseille. We also discuss the potential role of point-of-care (POC) rapid molecular diagnostic tools for this purpose. Clinical data were collected using a standardised questionnaire. Influenza A and B viruses, human rhinovirus and human coronaviruses, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and Klebsiella pneumoniae were investigated using real-time PCR in respiratory samples obtained during travel, at the onset of symptoms. 207 participants were included. A cough, expectoration, rhinitis and a sore throat were the most frequent respiratory symptoms, followed by loss of voice and dyspnoea. 38.7% and 25.1% of pilgrims reported a fever and influenza-like symptoms, respectively. 59.4% pilgrims received antibiotics. Rhinovirus (40.6%) was the most frequent pathogen, followed by S. aureus (35.8%) and H. influenzae (30.4%). Virus and bacteria co-infections were identified in 28.5% of participants. 25.1% pilgrims who were positive for respiratory bacteria did not receive antibiotic treatment. In the context of the Hajj pilgrimage, it is important to detect infections that can be easily managed with appropriate treatment, and those that can affect prognosis, requiring hospitalisation. POC rapid molecular diagnostic tools could be used for patient management at small Hajj medical missions and to rationalise antibiotic consumption among Hajj pilgrims.

Antibiotic Resistance of Helicobacter pylori in Patients with Peptic Ulcer.

Background and Objectives: To determine the antibiotic resistance rate of H. pylori among patients with peptic ulcer. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional monocentric study was conducted from January to December 2021 among patients aged from 16 years with gastrointestinal symptoms and esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Gastric mucosa biopsies were collected at the edges of the ulcer or at lesion sites for H. pylori culture. Five antibiotics (amoxicillin (AMX), clarithromycin (CLR), metronidazole (MTZ), levofloxacin (LEV), and tetracycline (TET)) were selected for antibiotic susceptibility testing. Results: One hundred and twenty-five patients were included, and the sex ratio was 0.6. Their mean age was 47.3 ± 14.2 years. All of the participants had gastritis, and 24.0% had duodenitis. A total of 21.6% of patients had a duodenal ulcer, and 12.8% had an antral ulcer. A total of 40 specimens have grown in H. pylori culture. The proportion of resistance to AMX, CLR, MTZ, LEV, and TET was 27.5%, 50%, 67.5%, 35%, and 5%, respectively. The proportion of multidrug resistance was 22.5%. The proportion of double resistance to AMX + CLR was 20.0%, AMX + MTZ was 15.0%, AMX + LEV was 2.5%, CLR + MTZ was 32.5%, and TET + MTZ was 5.0%. Conclusions: Our research results show that the treatment with MTX-TET or LVX-AMOX has the highest sensitivity rate. Therefore, practitioners should refer to these regimes to eradicate H. pylori in patients with gastric and duodenal ulcers. The reports on H. pylori eradication from different geographic areas show heterogeneous results. Therefore, continuous monitoring of antibiotic resistance of H. pylori in each population is very important. Having evidence helps clinicians to treat patients most effectively, reduce treatment costs, and limit the rate of antibiotic resistance.

Recurrence of SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA in recovered COVID-19 patients: a narrative review.

Many studies have shown that re-positive tests for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR in recovered COVID-19 patients are very common. We aim to conduct this review to summarize the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of these patients and discuss the potential explanations for recurrences, the contagiousness of re-detectable positive SARS-CoV-2 virus, and the management of COVID-19 patients after discharge from hospital. The proportion of re-positive tests in discharged COVID-19 patients varied from 2.4 to 69.2% and persisted from 1 to 38 days after discharge, depending on population size, age of patients, and type of specimens. Currently, several causes of re-positive tests for SARS-CoV-2 in recovered COVID-19 patients are suggested, including false-negative, false-positive RT-PCR tests; reactivation; and re-infection with SARS-CoV-2, but the mechanism leading to these re-positive cases is still unclear. The prevention of re-positive testing in discharged patients is a fundamental measure to control the spread of the pandemic. In order to reduce the percentage of false-negative tests prior to discharge, we recommend performing more than two tests, according to the standard sampling and microbiological assay protocol. In addition, specimens should be collected from multiple body parts if possible, to identify SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA before discharge. Further studies should be conducted to develop novel assays that target a crucial region of the RNA genome in order to improve its sensitivity and specificity.

Variations in respiratory pathogen carriage among a homeless population in a shelter for men in Marseille, France, March-July 2020: cross-sectional 1-day surveys.

We aimed to compare respiratory pathogen carriage by PCR during three different time periods in 2020 in sheltered homeless people in Marseille, France. The overall prevalence of respiratory pathogen carriage in late March-early April (69.9%) was significantly higher than in late April (42.3%) and mid-July (45.1%). Bacterial carriage significantly decreased between late March-early April and late April. SARS-CoV-2 was detected only in late March-early April samples (20.6%). Measures aiming at mitigating SARS-CoV-2 transmission were effective and also impacted bacterial carriage. Seasonal variations of bacterial carriage between winter and summer in this population were not marked.

Gastrointestinal symptoms and the acquisition of enteric pathogens in Hajj pilgrims: a 3-year prospective cohort study.

The acquisition of enteric pathogens and risk factors for Hajj-associated diarrhea in Hajj pilgrims is poorly documented. Pilgrims from Marseille participating in the Hajj in 2016-2018 underwent successive systematic rectal swabbing before and after their travel. Carriage of the main enteric pathogens was assessed by real-time PCR. Baseline demographics, adherence to individual preventive measures, gastrointestinal symptoms, and treatments were recorded. A total of 376 pilgrims were included. The median age was 62.0 years. During the Hajj, 18.6% presented at least one gastrointestinal symptom, 13.8% had diarrhea, and 36.4% had acquired at least one enteric pathogen. Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) and Enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC) were the pathogens most frequently acquired by pilgrims (17.6% and 14.4%, respectively). Being female was associated with increased frequency of gastrointestinal symptoms during the pilgrimage (aOR = 2.38, p = 0.004). Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) acquisition was associated with a four-fold higher risk of reporting at least one gastrointestinal symptom and diarrhea (aOR = 3.68 and p = 0.01 and aOR = 3.96 and p = 0.01, respectively). Pilgrims who suffered from diarrhea were more likely to wash their hands more often (aOR = 2.07, p = 0.03) and to be either overweight (aOR = 2.71, p = 0.03) or obese (aOR = 2.51, p = 0.05). Enteric bacteria such as E. coli that are frequently associated with traveler's diarrhea due to the consumption of contaminated food and drink were frequently found in pilgrims. Respecting strict measures regarding food and water quality during the Hajj and adherence to preventive measures such as good personal hygiene and environmental management will help reduce the burden of gastrointestinal infections at the event.

Acquisition of multidrug-resistant bacteria and encoding genes among French pilgrims during the 2017 and 2018 Hajj.

The objective of this study is to determine the acquisition of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria and antibiotic resistance-encoding genes by French Hajj pilgrims and associated risk factors. Pilgrims traveling during the 2017 and 2018 Hajj were recruited. All pilgrims underwent two successive systematic nasopharyngeal and rectal swabs, pre- and post-Hajj. Specific culture media were used to screen for MDR bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), carbapenem-resistant bacteria, and extended spectrum beta-lactamase producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E). qPCR was used to identify antibiotic resistance-encoding genes from cultured isolates. Direct screening of genes encoding for colistin resistance (mcr-1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 8) from nasopharyngeal and rectal swabs was performed using qPCR, and positive qPCR results were simultaneously tested by sequencing. There were 268 pilgrims included. The percentage of pilgrims acquiring MDR bacteria during the Hajj was 19.4%. A total of 81 strains were isolated (1 carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, 12 MRSA, and 68 ESBL-E). ESBL-E strains were found in rectal samples of 6.0% pilgrims pre-Hajj and of 16.4% pilgrims post-Hajj. Only 0.4% pilgrims were positive for CARB post-Hajj and 1.9% carried nasal MRSA pre- and post-Hajj. In addition, 23 (8.6%) post-Hajj rectal swabs were positive for mcr genes (19 mcr-1 gene and 4 mcr-4 gene). No significant association was found between co-factors and acquisition of MDR bacteria or mcr genes. MDR bacteria and genes are acquired by pilgrims during the Hajj mass gathering. Rationalization of antibiotic consumption and implementation of measures to prevent transmission of bacteria among pilgrims during the event are of paramount importance.

Enteric pathogenic bacteria and resistance gene carriage in the homeless population in Marseille, France.

We aimed to assess the prevalence of pathogenic bacteria and resistance genes in rectal samples collected among homeless persons in Marseille, France. In February 2014 we enrolled 114 sheltered homeless adults who completed questionnaires and had rectal samples collected. Eight types of enteric bacteria and 15 antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) were sought by real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) performed directly on rectal samples. ARG-positive samples were further tested by conventional PCR and sequencing. We evidenced a 17.5% prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms, a 9.6% prevalence of enteric pathogenic bacteria carriage, including Escherichia coli pathotypes (8.7%) and Tropheryma whipplei (0.9%). Only 2 persons carried blaCTX-M-15 resistance genes (1.8%), while other genes, including carbapenemase-encoding genes and colistin-resistance genes, (mcr-1 to mcr-6, mcr-8) were not detected. Our results suggest that sheltered homeless persons in Marseille do not have a high risk of harbouring gastrointestinal antibiotic resistant bacteria.

Viral RNA load as determined by cell culture as a management tool for discharge of SARS-CoV-2 patients from infectious disease wards.

In a preliminary clinical study, we observed that the combination of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin was effective against SARS-CoV-2 by shortening the duration of viral load in Covid-19 patients. It is of paramount importance to define when a treated patient can be considered as no longer contagious. Correlation between successful isolation of virus in cell culture and Ct value of quantitative RT-PCR targeting E gene suggests that patients with Ct above 33-34 using our RT-PCR system are not contagious and thus can be discharged from hospital care or strict confinement for non-hospitalized patients.

Epidemiological serosurvey of vector-borne and zoonotic pathogens among homeless people living in shelters in Marseille: cross-sectional one-day surveys (2005-2015).

Homeless people are often exposed to unhygienic environments as well as to animals carrying arthropods which both transmit zoonotic infections and human louse-borne pathogens. We attempted to determine the prevalence of antibodies against several vector-borne and zoonotic pathogens among homeless adults living in Marseille. During the 2005-2015 period, we collected sera samples from 821 homeless adults living in shelters. Antibodies against Bartonella quintana, Bartonella henselae, Borrelia recurrentis, Coxiella burnetii, Francisella tularensis (with a cut-off of 1:100), Rickettsia akari, Rickettsia conorii, Rickettsia felis, Rickettsia prowazekii, and Rickettsia typhi (with a cut-off of 1:64) were searched by microimmunofluorescence (MIF). MIF-positive serum samples were confirmed by cross-adsorption to characterise cross-reacting antigens and immunoblotting. Positive sera by Western blot were further tested using qPCR. We evidenced a prevalence of 4.9% seroreactivity to at least one pathogen including phase II C. burnetii (2.1%), B. quintana (1.7%), R. conorii (0.4%), R. prowazekii (0.4%), R. typhi (0.1%), B. recurrentis (0.1%), and F. tularensis (0.1%). No DNA from any pathogens was detected. A comparison with studies conducted prior to the 2000-2003 period showed a decrease in the overall seroprevalence of several vector-borne and zoonotic infections.